Disposable two-part orthotic foot support strap system and method

Abstract

An ultrathin sole strap with a pair of heel tabs and an ultrathin arch strap formed of flexible, non-resilient non-stretch woven microfiber material having an adhesive layer on an underside surface for adhesive application to a foot individually or in combination. The sole strap is adhered along the ball, the midfoot, and the heel of the foot, and the heel tabs are adhered to the back side of the heel in crossed relation. The sole strap functions as a tensile load bearing member in the region between the ball and the heel of the foot during the heel contact phase, weight bearing midstance phase, and propulsion phases of a walking gait cycle, to bear major tensile loads and stresses which would otherwise be absorbed primarily by the plantar fascia. The arch strap adhered transversely over the sole support strap and arch of the foot provides additional support and stability.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A disposable, two-part orthotic foot support strap system for treating plantar fasciitis and foot pain by reducing tensile loads and stresses and providing anatomical support to a foot of a user, the system comprising:
 an ultrathin, elongate sole support strap formed of a flexible material having an adhesive layer on an underside surface thereof, said underside surface adapted to be secured to, and extend along, a ball of the foot, a midfoot, and a heel of the user's foot, and conform to a curvature thereof, the sole support strap including a plurality of elongate tabs extending therefrom, wherein a thickness of the sole support strap is less than 1 mm, said flexible material of said sole support strap having a tensile strength of at least 25 lb/in-width in a longitudinal or transverse dimension, and said adhesive layer having a peel strength sufficient to prevent slipping or creeping of said sole support strap when secured to a skin surface of the foot; and 
 an ultrathin, elongate arch support strap having an adhesive layer on an underside, the arch support strap adapted to be secured transversely over the sole support strap between the ball and the heel of the user's foot and conform to the curvature thereof, wherein the arch support strap has a ratio of elongate-to-tensile strength that is less than 0.9 in a longitudinal or transverse dimension. 
 
     
     
       2. The disposable two-part orthotic foot support strap system according to  claim 1 , further wherein the elongate tabs are configured to be secured to a back side and lateral sides of a back of the user's heel in crossed over relation to one another to form a generally cup-shaped cradle configuration conforming to a contour of the back side of the user's heel to prevent slippage of said sole support strap. 
     
     
       3. The disposable two-part orthotic foot support strap system according to  claim 1 , wherein a combined thickness of said flexible material and said adhesive layer of said sole support strap is within a range of from about 0.127 mm to about 0.762 mm. 
     
     
       4. The disposable two-part orthotic foot support strap system according to  claim 3 , wherein the combined thickness of said flexible material and said adhesive layer of said sole support strap is less than 0.381 mm. 
     
     
       5. The disposable two-part orthotic foot support strap system according to  claim 1 , wherein said sole support strap has an elongation of 0% to 3% in its longitudinal or transverse dimension and said adhesive layer of said sole support strap has a 180° peel strength of at least 15 oz/in as measured in accordance with Pressure Sensitive Tape Council PSTC-3 Standard Adhesion to Steel 180° Peel Test. 
     
     
       6. The disposable two-part orthotic foot support strap system according to  claim 1  wherein the arch support strap comprises a preformed, ultrathin elongate generally rectangular strap formed of flexible, non-stretch woven microfiber material; said non-stretch woven microfiber material of said arch support strap having a tensile strength sufficient to prevent stretching and elongation of said sole support strap and said arch support strap in a longitudinal or transverse dimension, and said adhesive layer of the arch support strap having a peel strength sufficient to prevent slipping or creeping of said arch support strap when secured to a skin surface of the foot. 
     
     
       7. The disposable two-part orthotic foot support strap system according to  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of said arch support strap is less than 1 mm. 
     
     
       8. The disposable two-part orthotic foot support strap system according to  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of said arch support strap is less than 0.381 mm. 
     
     
       9. The disposable two-part orthotic foot support strap system according to  claim 1 , wherein said arch support strap has a tensile strength of at least 25 lb/in-width and an elongation of 0% to 3% in its longitudinal or transverse dimension when subjected to applied foot loads and stresses during the phases of a user's walking gait cycle when on the user's foot; and said adhesive layer of said arch support strap has a 180° peel strength of at least 15 oz/in as measured in accordance with Pressure Sensitive Tape Council PSTC-3 Standard Adhesion to Steel 180° Peel Test. 
     
     
       10. The disposable two-part orthotic foot support strap system according to  claim 1 , wherein said arch support strap has a length and width sufficient to be to secured transversely over said sole support strap, over opposed lateral sides of the midfoot portion of the longitudinal arch, and at least a portion of the instep of the user's foot. 
     
     
       11. A disposable orthotic foot sole support strap for treating plantar fasciitis and foot pain by reducing tensile loads and stresses and providing anatomical support to a foot of a user, the disposable orthotic foot sole support strap comprising:
 an ultrathin, elongate sole support strap formed of a flexible material having an adhesive layer on an underside surface thereof, said underside surface having a contiguous ball of foot portion, a midfoot portion, and a heel portion adapted to be secured to, and extend along, the ball of the foot, the midfoot, and the heel of the user's foot, and conform to the curvature thereof, and a plurality of elongate laterally spaced tabs extending from said sole support strap and configured to be secured to the side of a user's heel in crossed over relation to prevent slippage of said sole support strap, said flexible material having a thickness of less than 1 mm and a tensile strength of at least 25 lb/in-width in at least one direction, and a ratio of elongate-to-tensile strength that is less than 0.9 in a longitudinal or transverse dimension and is sufficient to prevent stretching and elongation of said sole support strap. 
 
     
     
       12. The disposable orthotic foot sole support strap according to  claim 11 , wherein said flexible material comprises a layer of a non-stretch woven microfiber material, wherein a thickness of the flexible material and the adhesive layer is between about 0.127 mm to about 0.762 mm. 
     
     
       13. The disposable orthotic foot sole support strap according to  claim 11 , wherein the thickness of said flexible material and the adhesive layer is less than 0.381 mm. 
     
     
       14. The disposable orthotic foot sole support strap according to  claim 11 , wherein said flexible material has an elongation of 0% to 3% in its longitudinal or transverse dimension when subjected to applied foot loads and stresses during phases of the user's walking gait cycle. 
     
     
       15. A disposable orthotic foot arch support strap for treating plantar fasciitis and foot pain by reducing tensile loads and stresses and providing anatomical support and stability to a sole, arch and musculoskeletal system of a foot of a user, comprising:
 an ultrathin, elongate arch support strap formed of a flexible material having an adhesive layer on an underside surface thereof, said underside surface adapted to be secured transversely over a midfoot portion of a longitudinal arch between the ball of the foot and the heel of the foot and at least a portion of opposed sides of the arch of the user's foot and conform to the curvature thereof, said flexible material having a tensile strength of at least 25 lb/in-width and a ratio of elongate-to-tensile strength that is less than 0.9 in a longitudinal or transverse dimension, and said adhesive layer having a peel strength sufficient to prevent slipping or creeping of said arch support strap when secured to a skin surface of the foot. 
 
     
     
       16. The disposable orthotic foot arch support strap according to  claim 15 , wherein a combined thickness of said flexible material and said adhesive layer is less than 1 mm. 
     
     
       17. The disposable orthotic foot arch support strap according to  claim 15 , wherein a combined thickness of said flexible material and said adhesive layer is less than 1 mm. 
     
     
       18. The disposable orthotic foot arch support strap according to  claim 15 , wherein said flexible material has an elongation of 0% to 3% in its longitudinal or transverse dimension and said adhesive layer has a 180° peel strength of at least 15 oz/in as measured in accordance with Pressure Sensitive Tape Council PSTC-3 Standard Adhesion to Steel 180° Peel Test. 
     
     
       19. A method for treating plantar fasciitis and foot pain by reducing tensile loads and stresses in a plantar fascia and providing anatomical support and stability to a musculoskeletal system of a foot of a user, comprising the steps of:
 removing a release liner sheet from an adhesive layer of an ultrathin, elongate sole support strap formed of a flexible material having the adhesive layer on an underside surface thereof, wherein the adhesive layer is covered by the removable release liner sheet, said underside surface having a contiguous ball of foot portion, a midfoot portion, and a heel portion, said flexible material having a tensile strength of at least 25 lb/in-width and a ratio of elongate-to-tensile strength that is less than 0.9 in a longitudinal or transverse dimension, and said adhesive layer having a peel strength sufficient to prevent slipping or creeping of said sole support strap when secured to a skin surface of the foot; and 
 adhering said ball of foot portion and said midfoot portion of said sole support strap to the skin surface along the ball of the foot and the midfoot to conform to a curvature thereof, and adhering said heel portion to the skin surfaces along the back and lateral sides of the heel of the foot, to conform to a curvature thereof and prevent slippage of said sole support strap, 
 wherein said sole support strap, in the adhered condition, flexes with the foot and provides stability and support to the musculoskeletal system and arch of the user's foot to reduce fascia stress throughout a walking gait cycle. 
 
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 19 , comprising the further steps of:
 adhering an arch support strap transversely over the sole support strap, wherein the arch support strap comprises an ultrathin, elongate arch support strap formed of a flexible material having an adhesive layer on an underside surface thereof covered by a removable release liner sheet, said flexible material and said adhesive layer having a peel strength sufficient to prevent slipping or creeping of said arch support strap when secured to a skin surface of the foot; 
 wherein adhering said arch support strap comprises adhering transversely over said sole support strap and at least a portion of skin surfaces of opposed sides of a midfoot portion of a longitudinal arch between the ball and the heel of the foot to conform to the curvature thereof, such that said arch support strap maintains said sole support strap in adhesive engagement with the sole of the user's foot.